Pahoa Elementary Principal Among Leadership Award Nominees

Pahoa Elementary School. Google Street View photo.

A Big Island principal will be recognized by Island Insurance Company on Saturday as one of 14 nominees state-wide for the 2016 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.

Pahoa Elementary School principal Michelle Payne-Arakaki is in the running for the award, named after the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of Island Insurance Company, Ltd.

Each of the nominees will earn a plaque and $1,000 in personal cash.

On April 21, a winner and semifinalists will be announced at the Public School of Hawai’i Foundation Dinner. The winner of the overall award will receive a total of $25,000, including $10,000 in personal cash and $15,000 to be used towards a school project. Two semi-finalists will each receive a $2,000 personal cash award.

In 2015, Kea’au High School Principal Dean Cevallos won the Island Insurance Foundation’s 11^th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award of $25,000.

2016 award finalists include:

• Mahina Anguay, Waimea High School, Kauai
• Chris Bachaus, Kula Elementary School, Maui
• Jamie Dela Cruz, Kaelepulu Elementary School, Oahu
• Steve Franz, King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Maui
• Christine Kinau Gardner, Kahala Elementary School, Oahu
• Alison Higa, Fort Shafter Elementary School, Oahu
• Jan Iwase, Hale Kula Elementary School, Oahu
• Bruce Naguwa, Kapolei Middle School, Oahu
• Michael Nakasato, Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, Oahu
• Michelle Payne-Arakaki, Pahoa Elementary School, Big Island
• Alma Souki, Heeia Elementary School, Oahu
• Lenn Uyeda, Maemae Elementary School, Oahu